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According to reports in France, Algerian international Hassan Yebda is on the verge of completing a surprise move to Sunderland. The report claims Yebda has agreed a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light, with the option of a further year, and is preparing to undergo a medical before signing his contract.
Yebda is a central midfielder who has previous Premier League experience after a season-long loan spell with Portsmouth in the 2009-10 season, where he played 23 times for the South Coast club, scoring twice and starting both games against Sunderland that season.
Since leaving Portsmouth he joined current club Granada, where he is out-of-contract, but has also enjoyed loan spells in Serie A with Napoli and more recently Udinese. The player suffered a serious knee injury during the 2011-12 season which kept him out for around 18 months but after playing for Udinese last season and playing a full part in Granada's pre-season, it's believed he has fully recovered from that setback.
The 30-year-old is also a full Algerian international with 25 caps to his name, including starting all three games in the 2010 World Cup and making a solitary appearance in the 2014 World Cup as he came on as a late substitute against Russia.
Should this report be true and Yebda complete his move he will become Sunderland's eighth signing of the summer after Costel Pantilimon, Billy Jones, Jordi Gomez, Jack Rodwell, Patrick van Aanholt, Santiago Vergini and Will Buckley.
Stay tuned to Roker Report throughout the summer as we keep you up to date with all the transfer news and rumours. Also, feel free to keep in touch with our dedicated Transfer Centre, which you can do by CLICKING HERE.
